By: Kai Bwor & Cooper Hofmann

Surprisingly, school staff are people too. They apparently don’t just appear in school one rainy day and begin teaching on the spot, though some may not believe that obvious fib. Our Granada Hills Charter (GHC) staff were once children with hopes and dreams. Today, we at the Plaid Press have set out to answer the student body’s burning question: “Did my favorite security guard ever want to own an Etsy store?”
Some childhood dreams fade with time, but International Baccalaureate (IB) English and Crime teacher Kristi Vazquez’s didn’t. From a young age, her aspirations were clear: she wanted to be a teacher.
“I used to give my sister homework assignments and set my Barbies up like they were in a classroom,” Vazquez said.
Vazquez’s journey to GHC was a happy accident. After graduating and facing a statewide hiring freeze, she was struggling to find a job as an elementary school teacher. On a whim, she called GHC to inquire about the credentials needed for teaching upper grades.
“I didn’t think I had a shot at the position because I didn’t have the necessary credentials, and my interview was terrible,” Vazquez said. “But they must have liked me because I’ve got my dream job now, though, and it is the absolute best.”
Meanwhile, some staff members had a different dream entirely. Marvin Williams, one of our school’s dedicated AEGIS security guards, aimed to keep more than just GHC safe—no, he wanted to be his hometown in South Florida’s greatest defender.
“I wanted to be a cop growing up, but I didn’t fully grasp how dangerous and important it was; I was only drawn to the uniform and the aesthetic,” Williams said. “I began working here as a security guard at GHC due to its convenience. It’s an easy and simple job, the pay is great, the location is awesome. I like working here.”
Counselor Wendy Woodburn has her work cut out for most days, wading through emails, managing requests to swap classes, and likely convincing a student or two not to schedule eight APs. But her original plan was no simpler.
“I wanted to be a psychologist or therapist growing up,” Woodburn said. “I loved the idea of working with people and starting my own private practice. But I learned that it’s hard to make a living early on.”
Luckily, she puts all that passion for psychology back into her work at GHC.
“Really, the students are what make this school so special to work at, they make the job fun,” Woodburn said.
Math teacher Sam Huse works hard to keep GHC a lively campus. Huse’s love for adventure isn’t limited to the classroom, though.
“When I grew up, I wanted to be a pilot,” Huse said. “Every time I get into an airplane, a wave of complete exhilaration comes over me. I love the taking off, I love touching down at the end, I love everything in between.”
So, at least for the time being, instead of flying, Mr. Huse has settled into the world of making his students’ math skills soar.
Not every GHC staff member dreamed of teaching, or watching over campus, or helping students sort their classes, but that isn’t a bad thing. If anything, it shows that life is unpredictable, and no plan is safe from stamping its foot straight into the house of cards you’ve been so carefully setting up. There’s no preparing for sudden curveballs, but somehow, someway, you’ll find where you need to be, no matter how long it takes.
Our GHC staff members, from security guards to counselors, are more than just the faces you see in the halls every day. They are individuals with their own stories, passions, and dreams that have shaped who they are today.
So next time you see a staff member, remember that beneath their professional demeanor, they’re people, just like us.